Do you consider that the horses which travel these roads that have been improved, last longer than formerly?—Yes. You need hardly be asked whether these improvements enable you to carry passengers at a lower rate than before?—Of course; it is the expense of the stock that is the great thing. If the roads were generally improved, travelling would be cheaper?—Of course. _Veneris, 21º die Maii, 1819._ Mr. _George Botham_, called in; and Examined. You keep the George Inn, at Newbury?—I do. Are you a proprietor of mail and other coaches?—Yes. To a considerable extent?—Yes, and have been for some time. How many horses have you?—More than a hundred. Your attention has of course been directed to the state of the road between Newbury and London?—Yes. State any improvement that has taken place in that road?—There is a very great improvement between Marlborough and Twyford. Under whose directions?—Mr. MᶜAdam. In what state was that road before?—It was in a very bad state, and I mentioned it to lord Aylesbury, and he applied to get the materials, and offered to give up any quantity of his land for the widening of the road, which he has done. In point of fact the road has been widened?—Much widened and much improved. Can you state what improvement it would make in the draught of the carriages?—Not exactly, but I consider it a very great one. You cannot state any proportion of the labour of horses in drawing a carriage?—No, not particularly so; I did not expect to be asked, but it is not very material. In what state is that road, compared with the road from Twyford to London?—I consider the road from Twyford to be a little mended, but it is very bad at present. Do you think by the adoption of the same system the road from Twyford to London might be equally improved?—I have no doubt of it; the materials are better. Which of course would make a great difference in the ease of working your coaches?—Yes; I should think we could perform the journey from Newbury to Reading in a quarter of an hour’s less time, which is seventeen miles. Have you, as proprietor of mail coaches, had occasion to express any dissatisfaction to the Post Office, with regard to your present contracts?—Certainly, with very great reason. Do you think that you should be enabled to continue those contracts at the present rate, if the roads are not put into a better state of repair?—That entirely depends upon the price of corn; we were very great sufferers till lately, that corn has fallen so much: or else my brother, as well as myself, intended to quit the mails, because we were losing a great deal of money. Do you consider that the system of repairing roads, which has been adopted in that part of the road which you have described as under the superintendance of Mr. MᶜAdam, is superior to any other that you have seen adopted?—Certainly, I am sure it is, there is no question about it.